April 1st has come and gone, marking the end of another year of video game industry pranks. Yet, the April Fool's gag from the team behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 might just stick around in our memories a bit longer.
On April 1st, Space Marine 2's publisher, Focus Entertainment, jokingly announced the release of a new Chaplain class as DLC. They cheekily stated, "In story mode, swap out Titus for The Chaplain and experience the game as a true Codex-compliant Ultramarine," likely snickering behind their screens.
This faux DLC supposedly introduced the Chaplain as a playable character in the story mode, complete with an 'Enhanced Dialogue System.' Every five minutes, the Chaplain would remind his teammates that "the Codex Astartes does not support this action," and "I’m telling the Inquisition." Additionally, the Chaplain's unique 'Discipline' ability would report any minor deviations from the Codex Astartes, granting a 5% discipline bonus but at the cost of a -20% brotherhood bonus.
The humor in this prank stems from the fact that players of Space Marine 2 know Chaplain Quintus as the ever-watchful overseer who scrutinizes Titus for any signs of heresy, despite Titus's unwavering loyalty to the Imperium, the Ultramarines, and the Emperor. Throughout the campaign, as Titus fights against the Tyranids and the Thousand Sons, it becomes evident that there's something unique about him, which Chaplain Quintus distrusts intensely. He's akin to an overzealous school prefect, always on the lookout for rule-breakers and ready to report them.
The Chaplain has become a meme within the Space Marine community, and this April Fool's joke plays right into that. Some fans have even expressed a desire for the Chaplain to be added to the game as a serious warrior-priest character, devoted to the Emperor's veneration.
ResidentDrama9739 posted on the Space Marine subreddit, saying, "This would actually go hard if this was real," sparking enthusiastic discussions about the Chaplain's potential role in the game.
Interestingly, Space Marine 2 is indeed set to introduce a new class soon, though Focus and developer Saber Interactive have kept details under wraps. While many speculate it might be the Apothecary, akin to a medic class, others hope for the Librarian, bringing warp-powered space magic to the game. Does the Chaplain's spotlight in the April Fool's gag rule him out?
Despite the surprising announcement of Space Marine 3's development, Space Marine 2's roadmap is packed with upcoming content. Patch 7 is scheduled for mid-April, and the game will also receive a new class, new PvE operations, and new melee weapons in the coming months.
